Obama praises Republican Sen. Snowe for ‘diligent’ work ahead of crucial health care vote

September 30th, 2009 Snowe is the woman with clout on health careWASHINGTON — They call her "President Snowe" in the blogosphere. Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe is the only Republican in Congress who might vote for President Barack Obama's effort to overhaul health care and extend coverage to those who lack it.

September 16th, 2009 Baucus calls health care bill commonsense measureWASHINGTON — A prominent Democratic senator is calling his 10-year, $856 billion health care bill a common sense measure that can win broad support. Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, unveiled his much-awaited legislation Wednesday after months of bipartisan negotiations that failed to win visible Republican support.

September 11th, 2009 Health negotiators focus on illegal immigrantsWASHINGTON — Health care negotiators in the Senate pressed for a way to ensure that illegal immigrants can't get access to government-funded insurance, a contentious issue now front and center after a Republican congressman's outburst during President Barack Obama's speech. The issue is one of several thorny problems that came up as a small group of negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee met Friday morning.

August 23rd, 2009 Talk of Senate voting maneuvers on health careWASHINGTON — A Republican senator predicts Democrats will turn to a little-used voting procedure to try get around GOP opposition and pass health care legislation. It takes 60 votes to shut down GOP opposition and move ahead to an up-or-down vote on a bill.

August 21st, 2009 Snowe: Challenge to break through 'chatter'WASHINGTON — Bipartisan health care negotiators are aiming to cut the costs of their bill after getting an earful from voters, a participant in the closed-door talks said Friday. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, a moderate whose support could be crucial if President Barack Obama is to realize his goal of a comprehensive health care overhaul, said contact with constituents "sharpened our focus on issues such as affordability and cost." "We keep reinventing the wheel in terms of our approach based on what we learn at home," Snowe told The Associated Press.

August 21st, 2009 Senate negotiators aim to cut costs in health billWASHINGTON — Bipartisan health care negotiators are aiming to cut the costs of their bill after getting an earful from voters, a participant in the closed-door talks said Friday. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, a moderate whose support could be crucial if President Barack Obama is to realize his goal of a comprehensive health care overhaul, said contact with constituents "sharpened our focus on issues such as affordability and cost." "We keep reinventing the wheel in terms of our approach based on what we learn at home," Snowe told The Associated Press.

August 10th, 2009 Obama: Canadian health system wouldn't fly in USGUADALAJARA, Mexico —President Barack Obama says Canada's government-run health care system works for Canada, but wouldn't work for the U.S. He warned Canadians that they will probably continue to get dragged into the debate over health care changes in the U.S.

August 6th, 2009 White House: Health care meeting not a negotiationWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama's meeting with a bipartisan group of senators on health care reform wasn't a "negotiating session" but simply a chance for him to get an update. Obama met Thursday with six members from the Finance Committee: Max Baucus of Montana, and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.

August 6th, 2009 Obama praises nominee for ambassador to JapanWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his nominee for ambassador to Japan will be able to communicate directly with him on U.S.-Japanese issues. Obama said Thursday he placed great thought into choosing lawyer and campaign fundraiser John Roos to oversee what Obama called a crucial diplomatic relationship.

July 20th, 2009 Obama: pass health overhaul by end of yearWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pushed back hard against critics of his health care overhaul plan Monday, vowing to fight "the politics of the moment" and press for passage of legislation by the end of the year. "We can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care," Obama said after meeting with doctors, nurses and other health care workers at Children's National Medical Center.

July 16th, 2009 Obama address NAACP conferenceWASHINGTON — It's a double celebration and a civil rights milestone: President Barack Obama tonight helps the NAACP celebrate its 100th anniversary, and the civil rights group celebrates the first African-American president of the United States. The White House says Obama's address will only touch on the debate over the NAACP's future.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.

June 29th, 2009 AP Interview: Snowe seeks bipartisan health billPORTLAND, Maine — Sen. Olympia Snowe, a key figure in shaping federal health care legislation, said Monday that a government-run plan that would take effect if the private insurance market fails to deliver affordable coverage could bridge the partisan divide that threatens to derail President Barack Obama's efforts to reform the system.

June 23rd, 2009 Obama voicing confidence on health care changesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he's "very optimistic" about the prospects for legislation revamping health care, arguing that the country simply must control skyrocketing costs in this field. He told a news conference th at unless the government acts now, the country will spend $1 out of every $5 on health care within the next 10 years.

June 16th, 2009 AP sources: Senate health overhaul costs top $1.6TWASHINGTON — The latest cost estimates for health care legislation in Congress are around $1.6 trillion over 10 years, two Senate sources said Tuesday as concerns mounted over the price tag for the sweeping overhaul. Two Senate staffers, one Democratic and one Republican, said Congressional Budget Office estimates put the cost of the Finance Committee version of the bill at around $1.6 trillion.